Hydrant valve assembly

ABSTRACT

A gate valve, particularly the gate valve of a hydrant including a shut-off valve cooperating with the gate valve, is provided with a bleed passageway so that with the gate valve in the closed position, a small stream will flow from the upstream side of the valve into the valve housing, indicating, when the housing is open, that the gate valve is closed.

United States Patent Klassen [4 June 27, 1972 [54] HYDRANT VALVEASSEMBLY FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Hans Klassen,Zedernstr. 7, 4048 Greven- 351,421 4/1922 Germany ..l37/609 broich,Germany 457,360 3/1928 Germany ..l37/272 [22] Filed Jan 23 1970 645,5055/1937 Germany ..l37/307 [21] App N04 ,434 Primary Examiner-M. CaryNelson Assistant ExaminerRichard Gerard 52] us. Cl .137/307, 137/551,137/609, Dinklage sPwflg 137/628 [51] Int. Cl ..E03b 9/08,F 16k 31/50,Fl6k37/0O ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..l37/272, 282-285, A

gate valve, particularly the gate valve of a hydrant including137/294307' a shut-off valve cooperating with the gate valve, isprovided l with a bleed passageway so that with the gate valve in theclosed position, a small stream will flow from the upstream [56]References Cited side of the valve into the valve housing, indicating,when the UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 housing is open, that the gate valve isclosed. R l 6, i 68 9/1925 Charland 137/272 3 Claims, 2 Drawing FiguresI II w 28 25 n V HYDRANT VALVE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND The invention relatesto a hydrant having a spindle-operated wedge gate valve in the main pipeline and a shut-ofi valve disposed above same in the casing of thehydrant.

Hydrants of this kind are known in which a wedge-gate valve that can beoperated by means of a spindle is disposed in the pipe line in which thevalve is installed, the upper part of the said wedge-gate valve beingconstructed as a shut-ofl valve whose seat is disposed above the mainline in the hydrant casing. See GermanPat. No. 64,606. The shut-offvalveis thus closed when the wedge-gate valve is completely open.Therefore, when the wedge-gate valve is open, it prevents water frompassing upward out of the hydrant. The system, however, has thedisadvantage that repairs can be made on the shut-off valve only whenthe main line is shut off at another point by means of another valve.

n the otherhand, it is in the prior art (German-Pat. No. 457,360) toprovide for a releasable connection between the wedge-gate valve andshut-off valve. Therefore, it is possible in this arrangement to removethe shut-off valve-from the hydrant while the wedge-gate valve isclosing the main line. The arrangement has the disadvantage, however,that there is no way of knowing with certainty whether the wedge-gatevalve is closed or open.

According to the system first mentioned, anindicating means consistingof gears must be provided on top of the hydrant for this purpose. Suchapparatus, however, is relatively complicated and troublesome.

THE INVENTION It is the purpose of the invention to design a hydranthaving a spindle-operated wedge-gatevalve in the main line and ashut-off valve disposed above same in the hydrant housing, the saidvalves being operable by means of the same spindle in such a mannerthat, when the wedge gate valve is closed the shut-off valve is open,and when the wedge-gate valve is fully open the shut-off valve isclosed, all in such a manner that the one who is operating the hydrantcan easily and with certainty whether the wedge-gate valve is closed.

According to the invention, this is accomplished by the fact that thespindle consists of two parts having opposite threads, which arereleasably joined together by a coupling, the one part serving for theoperation of the wedge-gate valve and the other part serving for theoperation of the shut-off valve, and the wedge gate being provided witha hole by which the interior of the main pipe line is connected to theinterior of the hydrant casing through a cross section that is verysmall in comparison with the cross section of the main pipe line.

In this arrangement it is easily possible to dismantle the shut-offvalve while the wedge-gate valve is closed. When the wedge-gate valve isall the way open, the shut-ofi valve is in the closed position, so thatthe water can flow unhampered through the main line, but is unable topenetrate into the upper part of the hydrant casing. When the wedge-gatevalve is closed, the shut-off valve is necessarily opened. Some waterthen passes from the main line through the hole in the wedgegate valveand into the casing of the hydrant. This water indicates that thewedge-gate valve is closed and that there is water in the main line.

Preferably, the hydrant is so constructed that the portion of thespindle that operates the wedge-gate valve has a flange that engagesinto an annular groove formed by holding means which are disposed onportions of the hydrant casing that can be separated from one another.

Thus, the invention provides an improvement in a gate valve comprising avalve body for installation of the valve in a main line, and having avalve seat, and further comprising a gate for opening and closing thevalve by respectively engaging and disengaging the gate with the valveseat. Further, the valve includes a spindle means for selectivelylowering and raising the gate to respectively close and open the valve,and a gate housing disposed above the valve body for receiving the gatewhen the gate is in the raised position. The housing is sealed from thevalve body portion when the gate is in the closed position. Theinvention provides the improvement which comprises a bleed passageway inthe gate for communicating one side of the gate with the gate housingwith the gate in the closed position. Thereby, with the valve installedin a main line with the bleed passageway communicating with the upstreamside of the valve, when the valve is in the closed position, a smallstream will continuously flow into the gate housing indicating that thegate is in the closed position.

The invention includes a hydrant comprisinga gate valve as justdescribed, for installation in the main line. The hydrant furtherincludes a hydrant housing releasably mounted atop the gate housing, ahydrant shut-off valve disposed in the hydrant housing, and a shut-offvalve spindle means for opening and closing the shut-off valve. Theshut-off valve spindle means and gate valve spindle means areoperatively connected to form a single hydrant spindle means. Thehydrant spindle means operates to simultaneously close the gate valveand open the shut-off valve, and simultaneously open the gate valve andclose the shut-0R valve.

Desirably, the connection between the gate valve spindle means and theshut-off valve spindle means is a releasable connection permittingdisassembly of the shut-off valve and gate valve with the gate valveinstalled in the main line.

Further, desirably, the hydrant housing comprises a lower member mountedon the gate valve housing, an intermediate member mounted on said lowermember, and an upper member releasably mounted on the intermediatemember. The shut-off valve plug is disposed in the shut-off valvehousing upper member. The gate valve spindle means has a collarintermediate the gate and the releasable connection joining the gatevalve and shut-off valve spindle means, and retaining means are providedfor securing the collar and gate valve spindle means at a fixedelevation. The retaining means includes a lower member secured to thehydrant housing lower member and an upper member secured to the hydranthousing intermediate member. The lower and upper retaining means memberscooperate together to effect the securing of the gate valve spindlemeans at a fixed elevation. Thereby, with the gate valve in the closedposition and the upper member of the hydrant housing removed and thegate valve spindle means and shut-off valve spindle means disconnected,the gate valve can be secured in the closed position.

The described mounting of the gate valve and shut-off valve on thespindle composed of the gate valve and shut-off valve spindles, can beby providing the respective spindle parts with opposite threads. Forexample, the spindle part carrying the gate can have right hand threads,while the spindle part carrying the plug of the shut-off valve can haveleft hand threads.

EMBODIMENTS The drawings show an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the system when the wedge-gate valve is closed; and

FIG. 2 when it is completely open.

Both figures show a longitudinal cross section through a hydrantaccording to the invention.

The example shown is an underground hydrant which consists of a casing 8through which a spindle 11 passes which is mounted in a stuffing boxconsisting of a nut 3, follower 4, packing 5 and base 6. At the upperend the spindle 11 has a square drive 2 covered by a guard l. A flange34 on spindle 11 is rotatably held between the stuffing base 6 and aspindle-supporting spider 7.

0n the spindle 11 there is placed a traveling nut 9 which isnon-rotatably affixed to a spindle sleeve 10 which in turn isnon-rotatably affixed to the shut-off valve 13, which is disposed in thevalve housing 12 so as to be longitudinally displaceable, but notrotatable. As in the prior art, an orifice 31 is provided in the valvehousing for the draining of the hydrant;

this orifice is closed by the seal 30 when the shut-off valve is open.The shut-off valve 13 has a tapered valve seal 14'which is held by theholding means 15 and co-operates with the valve seat 16. The spindle 11extends downward beyond the distance necessary for the operation of theshut-ofl valve 13, to the end of the valve housing 12, for example, andthere it has a square end which engages in a coupling 17, into the otherside of which the wedge-gate valve spindle 24 engages.

The valve housing 12 is mounted on a connecting piece 18, which in turnis fastened onto an adapter 22. The adapter 22 is fastened to thewedge-gate valve housing 23.

The wedge-gate valve spindle 24 is mounted by means of a flange betweenholding means 35 on connecting piece 18 and holding means 36 of adapter22. The apertures 19 and 21 are provided as by-passes.

The wedge gate 27 is joined to the wedge-gate valve spindle 24 by awedge-gate spindle nut 26. The wedge gate has a sealing ring 25 whichprovides a seal against the sealing surface 28. In the hollow wedge gatethere is provided a passageway 33 through which a small flow of waterpasses, which can escape at the top as indicated by the arrows inFIG. 1. The passageway 33 can, of course, be provided at other points;for example, it can be provided at 33a in FIG. 1.

ln the case of an underground hydrant, a catch 29 is also provided forthe stand pipe. The drain orifice is protected in conventional designsby a drain guard 32.

When the spindle 11 is turned, the wedge-gate spindle 24 turns with it.If spindle 11 is turned counterclockwise, the shut-off valve 13 rises,and at the same time the wedge-gate valve 27 descends. During theseactions water flows until the wedge gate has reached the sealing surface28. Then only a small amount of water flows through the passage 33. Fromthis flow it can be seen from above that the wedge-gate valve is closed.If the spindle is now turned clockwise, the wedge-gate valve rises andthe shut-off valve descends. Water flows in a greater amount until theshut-off valve 13 has reached its seat 16 and the wedge gate valve 27has assumed its uppermost position, as shown in FIG. 2. The hydrant isnow dry. This shows that the wedge-gate valve is open.

If repairs have to be made on the shut-off valve or on other parts ofthe hydrant, the wedge-gate valve 27 is closed and the top portion isremoved, the coupling 17 permitting the spindle parts 11 and 24 to beseparated.

What is claimed is:

1. A gate valve comprising:

a. a valve body for installation of the valve in a main line,

having a valve seat,

b. a gate for opening and closing the main line by respectively engagingand disengaging the gate with the valve seat,

c. gate valve spindle means for selectively lowering and raisin g thegate to respectively close and open the main line,

d. a gate housing disposed above the valve body for receiving the gatewhen the gate is in the raised position,

e. a hydrant housing releasably mounted on the gate housing and in fluidcommunication therewith.

f. a hydrant shut-off valve disposed in the hydrant housing to controlflow through said hydrant housing.

g. shut-off valve spindle means for opening and closing the shut-ofivalve,

h. the shut-off valve spindle means and gate valve spindle means beingoperatively connected to form a single hydrant spindle means.

i. the hydrant spindle means operating to simultaneously close the gatevalve and open the shut-off valve, and simultaneously open the gatevalve and close the shut-off valve, and

v j. a bleed passageway in the gate for communicating one side of thegate with the gate housing with the gate in the closed position, wherebywith the gate valve installed in a main line with the bleed passagewaycommunicating with the upstream side of the gate valve, when the gatevalve is in the closed position, a small stream will continuous] flowinto the gate housing indicating that the gate IS "I the closedposition. 2. Hydrant according to claim 1, the connection between thegate valve spindle means and the shut-off valve spindle means being areleasable connection permitting disassembly of the shut-off valve andthe gate valve with the gate valve installed in the main line.

3. Hydrant according to claim 2, the hydrant housing comprising:

a. a lower member mounted on the gate valve housing,

b. an intermediate member mounted on said lower member,

c. and an upper member releasably mounted on the intermediate member,

d. the shut-off valve comprising a shut-off valve seat and a shut-offvalve plug,

e. the shut-off valve plug being disposed in the hydrant housing uppermember,

f. the gate valve spindle means having a collar intermediate the gateand said releasable connection joining the spindle means,

g. retaining means for the collar for securing the collar and the gatevalve spindle means at a fixed elevation,

h. the retaining means including a lower member secured to the hydranthousing lower member and an upper member secured to the hydrant housingintermediate member, said lower and upper retaining means memberscooperating together to effect said securing of the gate valve spindlemeans at a fixed elevation whereby with the gate valve in the closedposition and the upper member of the hydrant housing removed and thegate valve spindle means and shut-off valve spindle means disconnected,the gate valve is secured in the closed position.

1. A gate valve comprising: a. a valve body for installation of thevalve in a main line, having a valve seat, b. a gate for opening andclosing the main line by respectively engaging and disengaging the gatewith the valve seat, c. gate valve spindle means for selectivelylowering and raising the gate to respectively close and open the mainline, d. a gate housing disposed above the valve body for receiving thegate when the gate is in the raised position, e. a hydrant housingreleasably mounted on the gate housing and in fluid communicationtherewith. f. a hydrant shut-off valve disposed in the hydrant housingto control flow through said hydrant housing. g. shut-off valve spindlemeans for opening and closing the shut-off valve, h. the shut-off valvespindle means and gate valve spindle means being operatively connectedto form a single hydrant spindle means. i. the hydrant spindle meansoperating to simultaneously close the gate valve and open the shut-offvalve, and simultaneously open the gate valve and close the shut-offvalve, and j. a bleed passageway in the gate for communicating one sideof the gate with the gate housing with the gate in the closed position,whereby with the gate valve installed in a main line with the bleedpassageway communicating with the upstream side of the gate valve, whenthe gate valve is in the closed position, a small stream willcontinuously flow into the gate housing indicating that the gate is inthe closed position.
 2. Hydrant according to claim 1, the connectionbetween the gate valve spindle means and the shut-off valve spindlemeans being a releasable connection permitting disassembly of theshut-off valve and the gate valve with the gate valve installed in themain line.
 3. Hydrant according to claim 2, the hydrant housingcomprising: a. a lower member mounted on the gate valve housing, b. anintermediate member mounted on said lower member, c. and an upper memberreleasably mounted on the intermediate member, d. the shut-off valvecomprising a shut-off valve seat and a shut-off valve plug, e. theshut-off valve plug being disposed in the hydrant housing upper member,f. the gate valve spindle means having a collar intermediate the gateand said releasable connection joining the spindle means, g. retainingmeans for the collar for securing the collar and the gate valve spindlemeans at a fixed elevation, h. the retaining means including a lowermember secured to the hydrant housing lower member and an upper membersecured to the hydrant housing intermediate member, said lower and upperretaining means members cooperating together to effect said securing ofthe gate valve spindle means at a fixed elevation whereby with the gatevalve in the closed position and the upper member of the hydrant housingremoved and the gate valve spindle means and shut-off valve spindlemeans disconnected, the gate valve is secured in the closed position.